Former nurse who became a driving force in Omagh’s business life

KATHLEEN Traynor, the former owner of the Silverbirch Hotel and a pioneering figure in Omagh’s hospitality scene, has been remembered as a ‘strong, colourful and flamboyant’ woman whose long and remarkable life left a lasting impression on all who knew her.

Mrs Traynor, who was 95, passed away last week. Her funeral took place on Monday at St Mary’s Church in Killyclogher, where hundreds of mourners gathered to pay their respects to a woman described as a ‘force of nature’.

Before entering the hotel business, Mrs Traynor trained and worked as a nurse and midwife – caring for others both in Tyrone County Hospital and as far afield as Liverpool and Australia.

In the 1960s and 1970s, she helped transform the Silverbirch Hotel into a thriving venue at the heart of the community. It became a hub for charity events, club functions, and social gatherings – many of which laid the foundations for the hotel’s lasting popularity.

During her Funeral Mass, Cappagh Parish Priest Fr Kevin McElhennon praised Kathleen’s strength of character and unique spirit.

“Kathleen was without question a force of nature,” he said. “She had a strong spirit and a sharp mind. She was passionate – she could be funny, fierce and full of energy. She stood out, and she stood strong.”

He also spoke of her deep appreciation for nature and her spiritual connection to the world around her.

“She felt at home in the wild beauty of landscapes, in the colours of the seasons, and in the quiet strength of the trees. She saw something sacred in nature, and that spiritual connection helped to shape her life.”

Fr McElhennon added that Kathleen was a woman ahead of her time – with modern views on food, fashion and the role of women in society.

“She wasn’t one to follow the crowd, but she lived with passion and conviction. We remember her whole life – not just the strong and vibrant parts, but also the more complicated and complex parts as well.”